Moses Kagan
@moseskagan.bsky.social
Owns $200MM of apartment buildings (w investors). Manages 1,100 apartments. Co-founder: Reconvene and ReSeed. Join my mailing list here: moseskagan.com
This is your periodic reminder to be nice to the brokers who cold-call you.
These guys & gals are out in the market trying to put deals together.
You want them to like you!
(Acknowledge this isn't always easy... this is a note to myself as much as everyone reading!)
These guys & gals are out in the market trying to put deals together.
You want them to like you!
(Acknowledge this isn't always easy... this is a note to myself as much as everyone reading!)
April 23, 2025 at 9:57 PM
This is your periodic reminder to be nice to the brokers who cold-call you.
These guys & gals are out in the market trying to put deals together.
You want them to like you!
(Acknowledge this isn't always easy... this is a note to myself as much as everyone reading!)
These guys & gals are out in the market trying to put deals together.
You want them to like you!
(Acknowledge this isn't always easy... this is a note to myself as much as everyone reading!)
Most important skills in prop mgmt are the soft ones, like:
How to handle getting yelled at by a tenant for something that wasn't your fault, w/o taking it personally or losing your empathy for the next tenant who calls.
(For this reason, we’ve had success hiring waiters & bartenders into PM.)
How to handle getting yelled at by a tenant for something that wasn't your fault, w/o taking it personally or losing your empathy for the next tenant who calls.
(For this reason, we’ve had success hiring waiters & bartenders into PM.)
April 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Most important skills in prop mgmt are the soft ones, like:
How to handle getting yelled at by a tenant for something that wasn't your fault, w/o taking it personally or losing your empathy for the next tenant who calls.
(For this reason, we’ve had success hiring waiters & bartenders into PM.)
How to handle getting yelled at by a tenant for something that wasn't your fault, w/o taking it personally or losing your empathy for the next tenant who calls.
(For this reason, we’ve had success hiring waiters & bartenders into PM.)
Excited for our 2nd LA multifamily webinar, focused on ground up development.
We'll discuss new opportunities, $$ raising, permitting, construction costs & timelines, regulatory impacts, leasing & more.
To join us on 2/27 at 10am PST, pls apply via the link below.
We'll discuss new opportunities, $$ raising, permitting, construction costs & timelines, regulatory impacts, leasing & more.
To join us on 2/27 at 10am PST, pls apply via the link below.
February 17, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Excited for our 2nd LA multifamily webinar, focused on ground up development.
We'll discuss new opportunities, $$ raising, permitting, construction costs & timelines, regulatory impacts, leasing & more.
To join us on 2/27 at 10am PST, pls apply via the link below.
We'll discuss new opportunities, $$ raising, permitting, construction costs & timelines, regulatory impacts, leasing & more.
To join us on 2/27 at 10am PST, pls apply via the link below.
As someone who has made a career fishing in an over-fished pond, having to develop increasingly sophisticated techniques to try to ensure we and our partners get enough to eat, take my advice:
Go find a pond with fewer fishermen.
Go find a pond with fewer fishermen.
February 12, 2025 at 12:08 AM
As someone who has made a career fishing in an over-fished pond, having to develop increasingly sophisticated techniques to try to ensure we and our partners get enough to eat, take my advice:
Go find a pond with fewer fishermen.
Go find a pond with fewer fishermen.
Tapeworm: A product or service you build your business around, giving the owner of the tapeworm the power to raise her prices faster than inflation, eating your margin.
Where possible, you want *own* tapeworms, not invite them onto your P&L.
Where possible, you want *own* tapeworms, not invite them onto your P&L.
February 3, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Tapeworm: A product or service you build your business around, giving the owner of the tapeworm the power to raise her prices faster than inflation, eating your margin.
Where possible, you want *own* tapeworms, not invite them onto your P&L.
Where possible, you want *own* tapeworms, not invite them onto your P&L.
The two best questions I've used in interviews lately:
1. If, 20 years from now, you look back on this decision to join us as a great one, what will have been the main reason?
2. If joining us turns out to have been a mistake, what do you think the reason will be?
1. If, 20 years from now, you look back on this decision to join us as a great one, what will have been the main reason?
2. If joining us turns out to have been a mistake, what do you think the reason will be?
January 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The two best questions I've used in interviews lately:
1. If, 20 years from now, you look back on this decision to join us as a great one, what will have been the main reason?
2. If joining us turns out to have been a mistake, what do you think the reason will be?
1. If, 20 years from now, you look back on this decision to join us as a great one, what will have been the main reason?
2. If joining us turns out to have been a mistake, what do you think the reason will be?
Growing up, my brother & I lived under threat of death if we failed to write down the name & telephone number of prospective tenants who called while our parents were out.
*That* is the appropriate level of urgency around vacancy in a property management organization.
*That* is the appropriate level of urgency around vacancy in a property management organization.
December 30, 2024 at 2:45 PM
Growing up, my brother & I lived under threat of death if we failed to write down the name & telephone number of prospective tenants who called while our parents were out.
*That* is the appropriate level of urgency around vacancy in a property management organization.
*That* is the appropriate level of urgency around vacancy in a property management organization.
Whenever I write about starting as a real estate operator, someone notes it's unfair that raising $ is easier for richer, better connected people.
They're right; it's unfair.
But, if you want to change your family's trajectory, you're going to have to smash thru some barriers.
This is the 1st.
They're right; it's unfair.
But, if you want to change your family's trajectory, you're going to have to smash thru some barriers.
This is the 1st.
December 27, 2024 at 3:10 PM
Whenever I write about starting as a real estate operator, someone notes it's unfair that raising $ is easier for richer, better connected people.
They're right; it's unfair.
But, if you want to change your family's trajectory, you're going to have to smash thru some barriers.
This is the 1st.
They're right; it's unfair.
But, if you want to change your family's trajectory, you're going to have to smash thru some barriers.
This is the 1st.
As a kid, I inwardly scoffed at posters in our wrestling room with messages like "pain is temporary, pride is forever" and at coaches who said things like "are you hurt or are you injured?"
Now I think my kids & their peers would benefit from a dose of that kind of "anti-fragility culture".
Now I think my kids & their peers would benefit from a dose of that kind of "anti-fragility culture".
December 25, 2024 at 7:48 PM
As a kid, I inwardly scoffed at posters in our wrestling room with messages like "pain is temporary, pride is forever" and at coaches who said things like "are you hurt or are you injured?"
Now I think my kids & their peers would benefit from a dose of that kind of "anti-fragility culture".
Now I think my kids & their peers would benefit from a dose of that kind of "anti-fragility culture".
From a mental health perspective, the single best part of being an entrepreneur:
Am paid, to the penny, exactly what I am worth.
Am paid, to the penny, exactly what I am worth.
December 23, 2024 at 2:33 PM
From a mental health perspective, the single best part of being an entrepreneur:
Am paid, to the penny, exactly what I am worth.
Am paid, to the penny, exactly what I am worth.
Get out of poverty hack:
Find an old-school property manager offering a free apt for a resident mngr, w no 1099 (these positions are out there, just not w our company!).
One person takes that job; other works full-time for outside the home.
W no rent & a frugal lifestyle, can save ~$1k+ / month
Find an old-school property manager offering a free apt for a resident mngr, w no 1099 (these positions are out there, just not w our company!).
One person takes that job; other works full-time for outside the home.
W no rent & a frugal lifestyle, can save ~$1k+ / month
December 18, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Get out of poverty hack:
Find an old-school property manager offering a free apt for a resident mngr, w no 1099 (these positions are out there, just not w our company!).
One person takes that job; other works full-time for outside the home.
W no rent & a frugal lifestyle, can save ~$1k+ / month
Find an old-school property manager offering a free apt for a resident mngr, w no 1099 (these positions are out there, just not w our company!).
One person takes that job; other works full-time for outside the home.
W no rent & a frugal lifestyle, can save ~$1k+ / month
Small business is just saying, "We'll get to this once things settle down," and never getting to it, bc things never settle down.
December 17, 2024 at 1:58 PM
Small business is just saying, "We'll get to this once things settle down," and never getting to it, bc things never settle down.
Good reason to help young people starting their careers (besides, you know, common decency):
They don't stay young. They grow in professional stature, power, & influence.
And then *your* kids grow up & need help & the cycle starts again.
They don't stay young. They grow in professional stature, power, & influence.
And then *your* kids grow up & need help & the cycle starts again.
December 16, 2024 at 1:53 PM
Good reason to help young people starting their careers (besides, you know, common decency):
They don't stay young. They grow in professional stature, power, & influence.
And then *your* kids grow up & need help & the cycle starts again.
They don't stay young. They grow in professional stature, power, & influence.
And then *your* kids grow up & need help & the cycle starts again.
There is a 500 unit apartment building in LA where tenants haven't been able to receive mail since it opened in ~March, because the Postal Service hasn't got around to installing mailbox locks.
December 15, 2024 at 7:42 PM
There is a 500 unit apartment building in LA where tenants haven't been able to receive mail since it opened in ~March, because the Postal Service hasn't got around to installing mailbox locks.
When naming a real estate firm:
Remember that, if all goes well, you’ll probably be spelling the name to brokers over the phone (“A, as in apple…”) for the next 30 years.
Choose wisely.
Remember that, if all goes well, you’ll probably be spelling the name to brokers over the phone (“A, as in apple…”) for the next 30 years.
Choose wisely.
December 13, 2024 at 9:28 PM
When naming a real estate firm:
Remember that, if all goes well, you’ll probably be spelling the name to brokers over the phone (“A, as in apple…”) for the next 30 years.
Choose wisely.
Remember that, if all goes well, you’ll probably be spelling the name to brokers over the phone (“A, as in apple…”) for the next 30 years.
Choose wisely.
Came out of college with what I now understand was insufferable, fake confidence.
Then life knocked me around some.
And then I learned, slowly & painfully, how to create enough value to feed my family.
That’s when & how I replaced fake confidence with the real thing.
Then life knocked me around some.
And then I learned, slowly & painfully, how to create enough value to feed my family.
That’s when & how I replaced fake confidence with the real thing.
December 12, 2024 at 2:09 PM
Came out of college with what I now understand was insufferable, fake confidence.
Then life knocked me around some.
And then I learned, slowly & painfully, how to create enough value to feed my family.
That’s when & how I replaced fake confidence with the real thing.
Then life knocked me around some.
And then I learned, slowly & painfully, how to create enough value to feed my family.
That’s when & how I replaced fake confidence with the real thing.
When negotiating with prospective partners, remember:
Given a sufficiently long time-horizon, unsustainable arrangements will not be sustained.
Given a sufficiently long time-horizon, unsustainable arrangements will not be sustained.
December 11, 2024 at 6:32 PM
When negotiating with prospective partners, remember:
Given a sufficiently long time-horizon, unsustainable arrangements will not be sustained.
Given a sufficiently long time-horizon, unsustainable arrangements will not be sustained.
Something newer real estate investors sometimes struggle with:
There really are mispricings.
That is to say: If you've done all the homework, and the numbers are still coming up good, what you're looking at likely *is* a good deal & you should buy it.
There really are mispricings.
That is to say: If you've done all the homework, and the numbers are still coming up good, what you're looking at likely *is* a good deal & you should buy it.
December 8, 2024 at 6:36 PM
Something newer real estate investors sometimes struggle with:
There really are mispricings.
That is to say: If you've done all the homework, and the numbers are still coming up good, what you're looking at likely *is* a good deal & you should buy it.
There really are mispricings.
That is to say: If you've done all the homework, and the numbers are still coming up good, what you're looking at likely *is* a good deal & you should buy it.
For a long & successful career in property management:
You need to take problems seriously, without taking them personally
You need to take problems seriously, without taking them personally
December 7, 2024 at 2:57 PM
For a long & successful career in property management:
You need to take problems seriously, without taking them personally
You need to take problems seriously, without taking them personally
One of the under-appreciated factors inhibiting heavy value-add strategies right now:
Opportunity cost to investors of having $$ tied up in the deal without getting any yield (while the rehab is going on), is much, much higher than it was in the late, lamented Low Rate Era
Opportunity cost to investors of having $$ tied up in the deal without getting any yield (while the rehab is going on), is much, much higher than it was in the late, lamented Low Rate Era
December 6, 2024 at 5:46 PM
One of the under-appreciated factors inhibiting heavy value-add strategies right now:
Opportunity cost to investors of having $$ tied up in the deal without getting any yield (while the rehab is going on), is much, much higher than it was in the late, lamented Low Rate Era
Opportunity cost to investors of having $$ tied up in the deal without getting any yield (while the rehab is going on), is much, much higher than it was in the late, lamented Low Rate Era
The most trustworthy foundation guy I know brags about having sold a customer a $100k retaining wall that cost him like $6k to build.
December 5, 2024 at 1:34 PM
The most trustworthy foundation guy I know brags about having sold a customer a $100k retaining wall that cost him like $6k to build.
Very annoying that many of the most interesting properties for re-positioning (single story, high ceiling, plenty of excess land, large openings, etc.) are currently auto-related uses that come with material environmental risk.
December 4, 2024 at 3:45 PM
Very annoying that many of the most interesting properties for re-positioning (single story, high ceiling, plenty of excess land, large openings, etc.) are currently auto-related uses that come with material environmental risk.
Something I wish every legislator, regulator & housing court in the country would internalize:
The harder you make evicting a tenant who dishonors his lease, the harder it is for owners to justify renting to marginal applicants.
The harder you make evicting a tenant who dishonors his lease, the harder it is for owners to justify renting to marginal applicants.
December 3, 2024 at 6:51 PM
Something I wish every legislator, regulator & housing court in the country would internalize:
The harder you make evicting a tenant who dishonors his lease, the harder it is for owners to justify renting to marginal applicants.
The harder you make evicting a tenant who dishonors his lease, the harder it is for owners to justify renting to marginal applicants.
Reminder: Today is the last day for Reconvene Repeaters to take advantage of discounted pricing.
Thereafter, we'll open spots to the waitlist.
If you think you might want to join our group of real estate operators and passive investors in SoCal in September, apply here:
reconvene.com/waitlist
Thereafter, we'll open spots to the waitlist.
If you think you might want to join our group of real estate operators and passive investors in SoCal in September, apply here:
reconvene.com/waitlist
December 3, 2024 at 2:05 AM
Reminder: Today is the last day for Reconvene Repeaters to take advantage of discounted pricing.
Thereafter, we'll open spots to the waitlist.
If you think you might want to join our group of real estate operators and passive investors in SoCal in September, apply here:
reconvene.com/waitlist
Thereafter, we'll open spots to the waitlist.
If you think you might want to join our group of real estate operators and passive investors in SoCal in September, apply here:
reconvene.com/waitlist
If you’re playing the “net worth” game:
As quickly as you can, figure out how to go from this: Work->income->tax->equity
To this: Work->equity
As quickly as you can, figure out how to go from this: Work->income->tax->equity
To this: Work->equity
December 2, 2024 at 11:16 PM
If you’re playing the “net worth” game:
As quickly as you can, figure out how to go from this: Work->income->tax->equity
To this: Work->equity
As quickly as you can, figure out how to go from this: Work->income->tax->equity
To this: Work->equity